The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories.

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Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter, 2011

Except for two photos, which are indicated as from last year, all photos were taken today, April 24th, Easter Sunday.

An Easter morning walk around Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town reveals the poor condition of many areas of the complex, particularly (and surprisingly) in Peter Cooper. In both properties one comes across many large patches of bare ground and wide man-made paths that residents prefer to use over the regular walkways. The general impression is that the money just isn't there to maintain the property grounds in consistently nice condition.

Here are photos of Peter Cooper Village, taken today:

And, now, photos of Stuyvesant Town:

Despite this depressing reality, another reality is seen. Some attention has been paid to the Oval area, with lovely plantings scattered about. This is still far, far removed from the days when this property was being prepared for sale (and looked its best), but it is an attempt to beautify the Oval grounds that former management Tishman Speyer nearly ignored.

As a reminder, here are two photos from the disgraceful Happy Easter 2010 of Tishman Speyer:

Now let's jump to the present, Rose Associates managing:

Disappointing is the obvious intention to not do anything for the south section of the Oval grounds in preparation for the Farmer's Market coming later in the year:

New grass struggles in birth. We'll see how much of a success this becomes once the Oval grounds are open to traffic and sunbathing:

Management is considering putting up chain-link fencing here and there. Such an action should be clearly done to prevent (or make the attempt to prevent) people cutting across grass areas of the complex--and not just the Oval. I also think it's a good idea to return to the days of hedges in Stuy Town/Peter Cooper to further block unwanted traffic flow. It would also be potentially beneficial to alert all residents that it's important for people to respect the grounds. Our grounds are vital to the look and feel of this place, and one of the great perks we having living here.

BTW, whose bright idea was it to wake everyone up at 10am this morning by having an Easter Concert for kids at the Oval? I guess some revenge on the party animals who returned past 2am last night and wanted to sleep till way past noon, but really.....

It drives me out of my mind to see people taking shortcuts through muddy trenches in the PVC grass. Are these cretans so busy they can't risk losing the precious seconds it takes to stay on the paved walkways?

A little off topic but this shows how little Rose ASSociates cares. Earlier today my wife went downstairs to do the laundry and was greeted by several wet pillows out on a counter. She was going to move them when she saw something move. Upon looking more closely she noticed that the pillows were full of bed bugs. Live bed bugs sitting on pillows on the folding table. She immediately left and went back to the apartment and called maintenance. After 30 minutes on hold she was rudely told that anything to do with laundry needed to be referred to Mac Gray so she called them. Unlike the Rose Associates worker this person was pleasant and helpful, but couldn't offer any more assisiance then to tell my wife Mac Gray was only responsible for the machines and that she needed to call Rose ASSociates. So back to Rose Associates and another 30+ minute wait before getting the same testy attitiude from the woman as before. They actually showed disdain that she called and interrogated her as if she did something wrong. End result was the Rose ASSociates employee said "OK you made us aware of it" and then click. I am sorry to say that despite showing some brief improvement Rose ASSociates is right back to where they were before,....NOT GIVING A DAMN ABOUT ST or PCV. I am calling CW Capital to file a formal complaint.

I hope they do put up the chain link fences again. This place in no way resembles the lovely place it was before Tishman Speyer and first management by Rose when the idiot Stadtmeyer had the trees cut down to "open up the Oval." What a cretin!

Thanks for the information. However, just so you know. Very few tenants actually care for or about your ridiculous Farmer's Market. In fact, to most of us it is just another invasion of our privacy, since the majority of shoppers from the market are not tenants. How about you spend your time fixing things that affect tenants instead of supporting bringing outsiders into the already overcrowded complex. FYI, none of the people who come in for the market are going to rent in this overpriced housing project. P.S. Anyone with a brain knows that if you want to shop at a farmers market you go to Union Square and get the same stuff you have here for half the price!

Maybe, instead of providing that useless piece of information, you should have addressed the horror story about the bed bugs and your employees horrific job performance!!

To SAVESTUYTOWN: RIGHT ON! YOU SAID IT! Mr Rose should be focussing on the tenants instead of pandering to outsiders. WE are the ones who pay the rent to live in this dump (which never was a dump until Rose came on the scene, followed by the catastrophically incompetent Tishman Speyer). I hope that STR doesn't drink the Rose Koolaid like the Lux Living blogger has done. Someone needs to stick to the facts and the facts are that Rose is not doing a good job, the so-called entertainments and farmers market do absolutely nothing for renters except cause annoyance and inconvenience. The farmers market is pathetic with its overpriced produce that is not much better than what they sell at Associated and way inferior in quality and variety to what they sell over at Union Square.

THINKING of Renting in PCVST?

Read Yelp reviews to find out what it's like living here. Please note: All apartments are currently "rent-stabilized" but that doesn't prevent apartments from going up to 4K to 6K a month and even higher. How does this happen? Ask our politicians! Fact: Now less than half of the complex's apartments have the old rents and it's getting worse year by year--or better if you are the Real Estate Board of New York!

The Other Yelp Reviews

Yelp can be tricky and bounce reviews for a variety of reasons, like being a member and posting just one review. Very often, however, these reviews hold important truths about what's being reviewed. READ THESE TOO.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance. (a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Looks like there is some difficulty in enforcing the ban on certain dog breeds allowed inside Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village. Somehow pitbulls and pitbull mixes have been registered in STPCV and are allowed to be freely walked about the grounds! Registered dogs in the complex are max 50 pounds. Total, if there is more than one! More than two, it's illegal. It's going to get worse, and, face it, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village will never be like it once was.

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Read it and Weep

Current Value of ST/PCV

Was 5.4 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer bought the place.Became 1.7 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer left, with their tail between their legs. Of course, tenants now have to make up the loss.

Ex-landlord

Rob Speyer

1947 Stuy Town Plaque Honoring Met Life Chairman F.H. Ecker (Removed in 2002 and never seen again)

"... who with the vision of experience and the energy of youth conceived and brought into being this project, and others like it, that families of moderate means might live in health, comfort and dignity in park-like communities and that a pattern might be set of private enterprise productively devoted to public service."

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best supermarket: Associated on 14th St. between 1st Ave. and Ave A. The cheapest prices, fantastic weekly sales, very affordable lunches; solid, responsive management. Some of the young female cashiers have attitude to spare, though. May be too far for Peter Cooper residents.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's has a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department in June.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for it's size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are affordable.

Disappointments:

Starbucks. Both the Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village ones, but at least you can get a seat once in a while at the Peter Cooper Starbucks. The personnel seem nice, but the last time I was at the 23rd St one, I had to leave because the music was loud and screechy, so that I thought dying cats were screaming.

Macular Degeneration Support Group

If you are currently diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary is offering a support group for you. Conveniently located next to the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, our group offers the opportunity to share stories with other members, listen to expert guest speakers, and learn coping strategies to reduce stress. Our group runs on the first Wednesday of every month and we would enjoy seeing you there.
Please contact Baptiste Nicolas, Social Work Assistant at 212-979-4105 for further information and to see if this group is right for you!